ookee: Duff Woon Yong
March 31 to September 4, 2023 Jepson Center
ookee—from the term 烏奇, which loosely translates to “dark strange,” in Chinese Mandarin— is an #art912 exhibition of works by Savannah-based artist Duff Woon Yong. Yong’s practice typically includes black-and-white painting on wood panels, paper, and recycled materials that have personal significance. ookee also refers to the subjects in his work, legions of amoeba-like creatures and shapes that wrap around or overtake their support. Inspired by Chinese calligraphy, ink painting, video games, and street art, the artist conceives of his work as “automatic drawing(s) similar to Surrealist automatism, an expression of the unconscious mind.” This solo exhibition will feature old and new pieces, including a site-specific, immersive mural.
Get ready to step into the ookeeverse!
About the artist
Raised in Singapore, Duff Woon Kee Yong (b. 1976) received his M.F.A in Computer Art with a focus on Motion Graphics in 2001 from the Savannah College of Art and Design. He has been a professor of Motion Media Design at SCAD since the early 2000s and was the director of Mr. Beast Gallery, formerly located on Bull Street, between 2010-1. Yong has exhibited in Taiwan and Savannah and has collaborated with local artists on numerous street art projects.
Photo: ⓒKaleb Sweeney
About the Sound
Yong collaborated with sound artist Tori Kurtz to create an original soundtrack for the exhibition. The ookee soundscape includes ping pong sounds, beatboxing, and flute, among many others. You can hear the full soundtrack in the exhibition at the Jepson Center! Check out a preview of the song ookee island:
Meet Artist & Sound Designer, Tori Kurtz
Kurtz received her B.F.A in Sound Design in 2016 from the Savannah College of Art and Design. She debuted her first full-length album, Willingness, in February 2023. To learn more about Kurtz and how she uses music as an intentional healing practice, check out her website: https://mywillingness.com.
Photo: ©Kahrin Spear
About the Collaboration
This short video, featuring Tori Kurtz and Duff Woon Yong, was created by Kahrin Spear.
ookee is part of Telfair Museums’ #art912 initiative, a platform dedicated to showcasing the work of Savannah artists.
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View image 1 in lightbox:
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boi, 2016; ink and acrylic on wood, ©Duff Yong
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View image 2 in lightbox:
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roko basilisk, 2022; ink and acrylic on wood, ©Duff Yong
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View image 3 in lightbox:
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Texas Ave, 2022; ink and acrylic on wood, ©Duff Yong
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View image 4 in lightbox:
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green, 2018; ink & acrylic on paper, ©Duff Yong
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View image 5 in lightbox:
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eye, 2021; ink & acrylic on paper, ©Duff Yong
